I almost can't believe how perfect this album is. I thought it might not stand up to the demos, 'cause the 7" had a cleaner, different sound, but right into the new recording of Aggressive Exterminator, all fears were crushed! And then the new songs might even be better!! This album will top the stacks for years to come; an absolute, undeniable command of nocturnal aggression!

Some of my other favorites (reissues and cd only are not included, sorry Witchfinder General)...

Dead Congregation "Purifying Consecrated Ground" 10" -I think this came out a few years ago, but the vinyl only came out this year (or I just got it this year)
Sabbat "Ishida Inferno" rehearsal lps -I love the raw sound of these sessions; Temis will be missed, but Sabbat lives on!!
Witchcraft "The Alchemist" They ditched their old dungeon sound, but in the end I still love this album. Plus, they killed it when they played live here; a guy from Trouble came on to guest, and they launched into "When the Screams Come"!
Slough Feg "Hardworlder" I don't like this one as much as their two previous, but it still rocks. It leans a little more towards 70s rock/ Thin Lizzy. I almost broke my neck at their show, so that heightens the album in my mind.
Bone Awl "Meaningless Leaning Mess," lp "All Has Red/Awl Has Red" & "Almost Dean Man" tapes.
Kill "Inverted Funeral"
Ride For Revenge "King of Snakes" and 10" w/ Tortorium
Unholy Crucifix "Morbid Ediface" tape
I was really unimpressed with most black metal I heard this year, but these are the standouts. Good to see that some bands are still doing original (and good) stuff, in the face of so much boring, repetitive crap.

There's a bunch more I don't recall at the moment... And of course a lot more reissues that great labels are putting out (Garlik Death, Root, all the NWN reissues), that are just as good or better than any new releases. Keep the underground burning, in metal hell!!!_________________"Great holes secretley are digged where earth's pores ought to suffice, and things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl..."